Braves starter Tim Hudson had a wonky back late in the season and had hoped to avoid surgery. He didn’t, however, and today had surgery to repair a herniated disc. The surgery — like all surgery on athletes — was reported as “successful.”

One day, heaven forbid, they’re going to report someone’s surgery as “a hot mess.” That will be interesting.

Anyway, Hudson is expected to be ready for spring training. But, dudes, your team’s most important starter coming off surgery like this is not the best thing in the world. Almost makes you wonder if the Braves’ talk about being willing to deal Jair Jurrjens is just that now, and they they’d prefer to keep him in the event Hudson is slow to rebound.

I had this same surgery over a year ago and I’m still not right. Granted I’m sure these guys get the best doctors, care, therapy, etc…, but this is something that can bother him the rest of his life. Of course I had complications and a follow up surgery to repair a spinal fluid leak, but they tell me it could take up to two years before I’m feeling better. I’m not holding my breath. Good luck to Tim.